Dual-dispensing valve with means to prevent throttling action

ABSTRACT

A dual-dispensing aerosol valve for use in dispensing products, such as hot foam shave lather, and oxidation hair dye, or the like; said valve being adapted to operate in upright position by means of an axial reciprocal valve member slidably mounted in a housing and operable with respect to a flexible valve element contained in said housing; said housing having passages at opposite sides of said flexible valve element which are controlled by an annular seat and a poppet valve portion of said valve member opposed thereto and engageable with an opposite side of said flexible valve element from said seat; said poppet valve member having means adapted to prevent throttling action of the valve with relation to fluids dispensed at opposite sides of said flexible valve element.

United States Patent 3,325,056 6/1967 Lewis 222/136 X 3,447,722 6/1969 Mason.......................... 222/4021 X Primary E.\'uminer Samuel F. Coleman mm L Jimmie L. Mann, Hacienda Heights, both Paul R. Wylie, Harold R. Beck and Leigh B.

I QM m Mr A Q n I 1m 7 6 aw Q. i NHL-hm C .LZ M 08MJD .0 C N we mm. d i New AFPA 111.1 253 2247 llll Los Angeles, Calif.

ABSTRACT: A dual-dispensing aerosol valve for use in dispensing products, such as hot foam shave lather, and oxidation hair dye, or the like; said valve being adapted to operate in upright position by means of an axial reciprocal valve m m E M HN no w C A am 5 V E Gm N s i E PT E Dm .w m mum DP.8 M U member slidably mounted in a housing and operable with respect to a flexible valve element contained in said housing; said housing having passages at opposite sides of said flexible valve element which are controlled by an annular seat and a poppet valve portion of said valve member opposed thereto and engageable with an opposite side of said flexible valve element from said seat; said poppet valve member having means adapted to prevent throttling action of the valve with relation to fluids dispensed at opposite sides of said flexible valve eleu s 2092 05%0 M3 4 26 B .ei. mUmm n/nu mu: m N u E mm T n." A H .n C m E 1 mr HA I "T 0 BS "n mm RE n m N u i d M hF U 0 W r 15 U 222/95 ment.

3,270,920 9/1966 Nessler.........................

lllf-ll/l/lllll PATENTEU JUL27 I97] SHEET 1 BF 2 I I i I f I v I I I I I I'LI I DUAL-DISPENSING VALVE WITH MEANS To PREVENT TI-IROTTLING ACTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various fluid-dispensing valves have been used for the purpose of concurrently and proportionately dispensing a plurality of fluids so as to create various products, such as hot foam shave lathers and/r oxidation hair dyes, or the like.

There has been a requirement for a compact, simple, and economical dual-dispensing aerosol valve having a minimum of moving parts which will permit concurrent and accurate proportional dispensation of a plurality of fluids from an upright position, and which will also prevent inadvertent throttling action of the valve with respect to the fluids being dispensed therethrough. Many previous valves for multiple dispensation of fluids from a common container means have been complex, and consequently, costly to produce and assemble on a high-volume production basis.

In some dual-dispensing aerosol valves a resilient valve member has been interposed between the two separate fluid source passages and has been engaged at opposite sides by a stationary valve seat means, and a movable poppet valve member, however, variation in the tolerance of the parts, as compared to the thickness of the flexible valve element which may also vary has insome instances caused a tendency of such valves, when operated, to throttle one or the other of the fluids, and particularly such conditions have occurred in such valves when they are operated manually in a rectilinear fashion without snap-action mechanism to cause such valves to open completely in a very rapid fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel dual-dispensing aerosol valve having a very simple and reliable assembly of parts'which may be operated manually without a tendency to throttle flow of either of a plurality of fluids through the valve.

The valve of the invention is also capable of upright dispensation and simple rectilinear actuation by a conventional dispensing head when the main container, to which the valve is connected, is in an upright position.

The specific mechanism of the valve of the invention in- I cludes a housing having a ledge therein; a seat means disposed in a bore of the housing and having one end clamping a flexible and resilient valve element on said ledge. A movable valve member is disposed concentrically in said housing and said seat means is provided with a poppet head adapted to engage said flexible valve element in opposition to an annular seat portion of said seat means so that separate fluids may be dispensed at opposite sides of said flexible valve element when said movable valve member is reciprocally moved in said housing to move the poppet head thereof away from the flexible valve element and allow it to move away from said annular seat portion of said seat means. Additionally, and in accordance with the foregoing, the poppet head structure of the movable valve member of the invention is provided with radially disposed ridges displaced from the area of the poppet which isopposed to the annular seat portion of said seat means, said ridges being adapted to preload the flexible valve element toward an open position with respect to said poppet head so as to cause a tendency of the flexible valve element immediately to separate fromthe poppet head when the poppet head is moved in a direction away from the annular seat portion of the annular seat means. In accordance with the foregoing, the movable valve member is provided with fins disposed in opposition to said poppet head, which fins tend immediately to force one side of the flexible valve element away from the annular seat portion of the seat means of the valve so that upon initial movement of the movable valve member, to move the poppet head in a direction away from the annular seat portion, the flexible valve element is forced away from the annular seat portion of the seat means, thus to prevent a tendency of the valve member and flexible valve element to be operated in a throttling condition with respect to fluids passing at either side of the flexible valve element when the poppet head is moved in a direction away from the annular seat portion of the, seat means. i

The foregoing structure is used to insure movement of the flexible valve element away from the annular seat means and from the poppet portion ofthe movable valve member to compensate for a variation in the thickness or tolerance of the flexible valve element whether it tends to be generally thicker or thinner than a specifically desirable thickness. The foregoing features are particularly advantageous with respect to the manually operable reciprocally mounted valve member which operates a flexible valve element having its periphery fixed in the housing, and wherein a face of a poppet valve member is engageable with one side of the flexible valve element for holding it in sealed relationship with a valve seat portion at the opposite side thereof, and where the thickness of the flexible valve element may vary.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dual-dispensing aerosol valve which may be readily and easily operated by rectilinear movement of a valve member and which may operate efficiently in a nonthrottling condition and in an upright disposition of a container in which the valve of the invention is disposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel dualdispensing aerosol valve structure having very simple and economical features of construction which are very reliable and simple to assemble in connection with the cap of an aerosol container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dualdispensing aerosol valve having novel dual-dispensing valve structure which is provided with a flexible valve element at the opposite sides of which two fluids are concurrently dispensed, and which may be operated in connection with a simple reciprocally operable poppet valve member without a tendency to throttle either of two fluids dispensed concurrently by the valve when the valve is manually operated at any desirable manual rate of reciprocating the movable valve element relative to the valve housing and the flexible valve element therein.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view ofa dual-dispensing aerosol valve of the invention carried by the cap of a main container, and wherein a flexible container is suspended by the valve housing of the invention, the illustration showing the outer container broken away and in section and portions of the dispensing-head broken away and in section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as that shown in FIG. 2, and showing details of the valve structure of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the same plane as that of FIG. 2, but showing a modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, the dual-dispensing aerosol valve of the present invention is provided with a housing which is secured, as will be hereinafter described, in connection with a cap 12 ofa main outer aerosol container 14. A dispensing nozzle l6 projecting from the housing 10 ofthe valve of the invention carries a substantially conventional upright dispensing head 18.

The housing 10 carries a flexible and collapsible inner container which is adapted to contain one fluid, while the interior of the outer main container 14 is adapted to contain another fluid, and additionally, a pressurizing propellent, as will be hereinafter described.

The valve 10 of the invention is adapted to be manually operated in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, and is therefore provided with a dip tube 22 coupled to the housing 10 and having an open receiving end 24 extending downwardly into a lower extremity of the main outer container 14 which is an area substantially opposite to the area of the cap 12 to which the valve housing 10 is secured.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the valve housing 10 is a substantially hollow cylindrical structure preferably annular, and this housing 10 is provided with a bore 26 in which an inner-clamping end 28 of a valve seat means 30 is disposed. The valve seat means 30 is a hollow cylindrical structure, and during assembly of the valve of the invention, the valve seat means 30 is inserted into the bore 26 through an open end 32 of the valve housing 10, said open end being near the outer terminus end ofthe bore 26. I

The valve seat means 30 is provided with an annular portion 34 near said outer open end of said housing 10, and this annular portion 34 is seated adjacent to a shoulder 36 extending radially outward from the bore 26.

Adjacent ends 38 and 40 of the valve housing 10 and seat means 30, respectively, are engaged by a resilient rubberlike gasket 42 which is clamped into sealed relation with said ends 38 and 40 of the housing 10 and valve seat means 30. This gasket 42 is held in clamped position and sealed position against the said ends 38 and 40 by means of the cap 12 which is provided with an annular crimped portion 44 crimped inwardly about an inwardly directed annular ledge 46 disposed around the periphery at the outside of the valve housing 10, all as shown best in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings. Thus, the gasket 42 is sealingly secured to and compressively engaged with the valve housing 10 at its end 38, and at the end 40 of the valve seat means 30.

The valve seat means 30 at its inner clamping end 28 engages a generally disc-shaped flexible resilient valve element 46 near a peripheral portion 48 thereof which overlies an inwardly directing ledge 50 which extends inwardly relative to the annular wall of the bore 26 in the valve housing 10. Thus, the peripheral portion of the flexible valve element 46 is held in clamped and sealed relation between the shoulder 50 and the annular clamping end 28 of the valve seat means 30.

The annular valve seat means 30 is provided with an annular valve seat portion 52 which is spaced inwardly relative to the annular clamping portion 28 to provide a fluid receiving annulus 54 which communicates with a first or normally upper side 56 of the flexible valve element 46. Communicating with the annulus 54 is an orifice 58 which communicates with the bore 26 ofthe housing 10. Also communicating with this bore 26 is a hollow cylindrical dip tube passage means 60 carrying a dip tube 62 so that fluids may flow from a lower inner extremity of the outer container 14 upwardly through the dip tube 62 and passage means 60 and through the orifice 58 into the annulus 54 at the normally upper or first side of the flexible valve element 46. This is accomplished by fluid flowing from the orifice S8and around through the annulus 54 for even distribution of fluid pressure on the normally upper or. first side of the flexible valve element 46. This flexible valve element is made ofa rubberlike material, and is generally resilient in character, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

It will be understood that compressive force of the gasket 42 on the end 40 of the valve seat means 30 causes the clamping end 28 thereof to compressively clamp and engage the flexible valve element 46 near its periphery 48, and to compressively hold this portion of the flexible valve element 46 sealingly against the shoulder 50 of the valve housing 10.

Reciprocally mounted in the valve seat means 30 and in a central bore 64 therein is a movable valve member 66. This movable valve member is a one-piece member preferably molded ofa single piece of plastic. This valve member 66 is integral with the hollow nozzle portion 16, hereinbefore described, and this nozzle portion 16 is provided with an annular groove 68 engaged by a concentric portion 70 of the gasket 42, hereinbefore described. The gasket 42 being provided with a central opening 72 which is tightly secured around the nozzle portion 16 in the annular groove 68 thereof.

The nozzle portion 16 of the valve member 66 is provided with a dispensing bore or passage 74 which communicates with radial openings 76 extending outwardly therefrom through the sidewalls of the nozzle portion 16. These openings 76 communicate with an annular groove 78 which has a minor diameter much smaller than'the bore 64 of the valve seat means 30, and this groove 78 communicates with ends of radially disposed fins 80, 82,84 and 86 which are integral with the movable valve member 66. These fins are so spaced apart as to allow flow of fluids therebetween and into the annular groove 78 and through the openings 76 to the bore 74 of the nozzle 16, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The movable valve member 66 is provided with a stem portion 88 which extends through a central opening 91 in the flexible valve element 46. The stem 88 is substantially smaller in diameter than the central opening of the flexible valve element, as shown in detail in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The movable valve member 66 is provided with a poppet head portion which is provided with a poppet valve surface 92 adapted to engage a lower or second side of the flexible valve element 46 in opposition to the valve seat 52 of the valve seat means 30. and the poppet head 90 is engaged by a spring 94 tending to force the poppet valve face 92 into firm engagement with the flexible valve element 46 so as to maintain it firmly and sealingly seated against the annular seat portion 52 of the valve seat means 66.

The spring 94 is a compression spring supported in a normally lower end 96 of the valve housing 10, and extending through the lower end 96 is a fluid passage 98 which communicates with the interior of the hollow flexible and collapsible container 20. This container 20 is provided with a neck portion 100 which is sealingly secured onto a peripheral portion 102 of the valve housing 10 and retained thereon by a buttress portion 104 which is integral with the normally lower portion 96 of the valve housing 10.

The valve housing 10 near the lower end 96 thereof is provided with inwardly directed fins 106 which project radially inward from the outer wall thereof and tend to form a concentric guide for the spring 94, all as shown best in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The poppet valve surface 92 is directly opposite to the valve seat portion 52 of the seat means 30, and radially inward from the poppet seat portion 92 are radially directed ridges 108 and 110 which project inwardly from the poppet seat surface 92, and which tend to cause resilient deflection of the resilient valve element 46 adjacent the opening 91 therein, and radially inward from the annular seat portion 52 of the valve seat means 30, all as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 8 of the drawings. The ridges 108 and 110 create a substantially channel-shaped deflected portion 112 in the flexible valve element, as shown in FIG. 8. The portion 112 is disposed inward of the seat portion 52 so that when the poppet head 90 moves away from the seat portion 52, the resilient deflected portion 112 reacts against the ridges 108 and 110 to cause displacement of the flexible valve element from the annular seat portion 92 of the poppet head 90 immediately to cause separation of the seat surface 92 of the poppet head 90 from the flexible valve element 46 at its lower or second side to'insure the immediate flow of fluid through the orifice 98 from the flexible container and upwardly around the poppet head and through the'central opening 91 of the flexible valve element 46 and around the fins 80, 82, 84 and 86 and upwardly through the orifices 76 and nozzle passage 74. Likewise, and aswill be hereinafter described, fluid flows through the dip tube connection 60, orifice 58, annulus 54 and an area between the upper or first surface of the flexible valve element 46 and beneath the annular seat portion 52 of the seat means 30. This fluid then flows between the fins 80, 82, 84 and 86, and therein mixes with the fluid which flows, as hereinbefore described, through the orifice 98 and upwardly around the poppet head 90 of the movable valve member 66.

Engageable with the first or upper side of the flexible valve element 46 are lower edge portions 85 of the fins 80 and 84, respectively. These lower edges 85, as shown best in FIG. 3 of the drawings, are closely adjacent the upper or first surface of the flexible valve element 46 so as to immediately force the flexible valveelement 46 away from the annular seat portion 52 of the seat means when the movable valve member 66 is manually forced in a reciprocal axial direction in the housing 10 so as to move the poppet head 90 away from the annular seat portion 52 of the valve seat means 30.

The ridges 108 and 110 at the normally lower or second surface of the flexible valve element 46 and the lower edges 85 of the fins 80 and 84 tend to prevent throttling action of the valve of the invention, and particularly when thickness dimensions of the flexible valve element 46 vary. As for example, should the flexible valve element 46 be relatively thick, it may tend to remain seated against the annular valve seat portion 52 during initial movement of the popped head 90 in a direction away from said annular,seat portion 52, and in such a condition, the ends 85 of the fins 80 and 84 initially act to force the flexible valve element to move away from the annular seat portion 52, thus insuring flow of fluid from the inside of the outer container 14 through the orifice 58 and annulus 54, and beneath the seat 52 or between the seat 52 and the normally upper or first surface of the flexible vale element 46; Likewise, fluid is forced between the flexible valve element 46 at its lower or second side, and the poppet head 90 at its. surface 92 due to the fact that the ridges 108 and 110, as hereinbefore described, initially tend, due to the resilient deflection portions 112, as shown in FIG. 8, move the flexible valve element away from the poppet surface 92.

Should the flexible valve elements 26 be relatively thin, the poppet valve surface 92 will thusbe in a further upward position with respect to that as shown in FIG. 3, and tend to be resiliently engaged by a generally upward directed conical deflection of the relatively thin flexible valve element 46, and under these conditions, the ridges 108 and 110 initially tend, due to the resilient loading at the deflection portions 112, to cause separation of the flexible valve element with the seat portion 92 of the poppet head 90. Thus, the ridges 108 and 110 tend to insure the flow initially through the orifice 98 and upwardly and over the seat surface 92 of the head 90, and through the central opening of the flexible valve element 46.

It will be therefore understood that the projecting edges 85 of the fins 80 and 84 tend to prevent throttling of the valve when the flexible valve element 46 is thicker than a desired thickness, and that the ridges 108 and 110 tend to prevent throttling of the valve when the flexible valve element 46 is thinner than a desired thickness thereof.

In very small parts, such as used in dual-dispensing aerosol valves of the nature disclosed herein, tolerances are very close and the flexible valve element 46 is very thin so that slight differences in thickness greatly effect the initial flow functions of the two aerosol fluids which are dispensed at opposite sides of the flexible valve element, and therefore this flexible valve ele ment must be forced away from the poppet surface 92 and the annular seat portion 52 concurrently as the poppet head 90 moves away from the annular seat portion 52. With this close tolerance operation and the foregoing features adapted to prevent throttling of the flow of fluids at opposite sides of the flexible valve element, a person may press inwardly on the dispenser head 18 causing the nozzle 16 to be forced inwardly against compression of the spring 94 to displace the poppet valve surface 92 from the second side of the flexible valve element 46 and to allow this flexible valveelernent 46 to move away from the annular seat portion 52, and to allow fluids concurrently to flow from the outer container 14 through the orifree 58 and from the collapsible inner container 20 through the orifice 98 so that the fluids may be mixed proportionately as they pass upwardly between the fins 80, 82, 84 and 86 through the annular groove, and outwardly through the ports .76'into the bore 74 of the nozzle '16, and thence to be dispensed through the dispensing head 18 in the conventional manner.

This function may be accomplished when the container 14 is in upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, due to the fact that the dip tube 24 at its open end receives a fluid product at the lower inner extremity of the container 14, and since the propellent or pressurizing fluid is in the container 14, it pressurizes both of the fluids in the container 14 and the flexible and collapsible container 20, as hereinbefore described.

In the modification, as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the collapsible container 20 is molded in an integral condition relative to the normally lower end of the valve housing 10, and thus to provide economy in the production and assembly of the various parts of the invention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to within the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a fluid-dispensing valve, the combination of: a hollow cylindrical housing having an open end provided with a bore communicating therewith; said bore extending to said open end; said housing having a shoulder extending inwardly from said bore; a stationary valve seat means having inner and outer ends; said inner end having an annular clamp portion; and an annular seat portion concentrically spaced radially inward from said annular clamp portion thereby forming an annulus between said annular clamp portion and said annular seat portion; said valve seat means disposed in said bore; a flexible valve element having a periphery and having first and second opposite sides; said flexible valve element having a central opening therein; said second side of said flexible valve element near its periphery engaged with said shoulder; said flexible valve element engaged near said periphery and clamped by said seat means at said annular clamp portion thereof; said first side of said flexible valve element engageable with said annular seat portion; a movable valve member engageable with said second side of said flexible valve element in opposition to said annular seat portion; and first and second passage means communicating with said first and second sides of said flexible valve element; said first passage means communicating with said annulus and the exterior of said housing; said housing having an inner end opposite to said open end; said second passage means in said inner end of said housing, whereby separate pressurized fluids may flow from said first and second passage means when said movable valve member is moved away from said flexible valve element; a cap secured over said open end of said housing and having a central opening therein; a gasket having a central opening therein, said gasket clamped between said cap and adjacent portions of said housing and said valve seat means; and manually operable means extending through said openings in said cap and said gasket and movable therein, said manually operable means disposed to actuate said movable valve member; said movable valve member and said manually operable means being integral with each other and provided with a stem portion extending through said central opening ofsaid flexible valve element; and a spring tending to hold said movable valve member against said flexible valve element and for compressively engaging said flexible valve element between said movable valve member and said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said movable valve member is provided with an annular poppet portion engageable with said flexible valve element in opposition to said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means; and passage means extending through said valve member beyond said central opening in said flexible valve element; said last-mentioned passage means extending outwardly through said manually operable means which extends through said openings in said cap and said gasket.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said movable valve member and said integral manually operable means are axially and reciprocally operable in a rectilinear manner with respect to said housing, said stationary valve seat means, and said flexible valve element.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cap is provided with a peripheral portion adapted to be secured to an outer main container; said inner end of said housing having means thereon for supporting a flexible container in communication with said second passage means therein.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: said flexible container is integral with said inner end of said housing.

6. in a fluid-dispensing valve, the combination: of: a stationary valve seat means having an annular seat portion; a flexible valve element having first and second opposite sides, said first side engageable with said annular seat portion; a movable valve member engageable with said second side of said flexible valve element; and first and second passage means communicating with said first and second sides of said flexible valve element, whereby separate pressurized fluid may flow from said first and second passage means when said movable valve element is moved away from said flexible valve element; said flexible valve element having a central opening therein, said movable valve member having a stem portion extending through said central opening in said flexible valve element, said stem portion being smaller than said central opening to permit fluid to flow through said central opening around said stem portion, said movable valve member having a poppet head provided with an annular poppet surface engageable with said flexible valve element at said second side thereof and adjacent said central opening therein; said movable valve member having ridges directed and extending axially from said poppet surface and disposed radially inward from an area engageable with said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means, thereby tending to cause resilient loading and movement of said flexible valve element in a direction away from said poppet surface. when said movable valve member is moved away from said flexible valve element and said valve seat means.

7. The invention, as defined in claim 6, wherein: said ridges being spaced apart; said stem portion having radially spacedapart fins disposed to engage said first side of said flexible valve element in positions displaced from and between those of said ridges, whereby said flexible valve element is forcefully moved from said annular seat portion of said valve seat means, when said poppet head is moved in a direction away from said second side of said flexible valve element.

8. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a dip tube is coupled to said housing and communicates with said first passage means therein, said dip tube extending near to an inner extremity of said main container at the opposite end thereof from said valve housing. 

1. In a fluid-dispensing valve, the combination of: a hollow cylindrical housing having an open end provided with a bore communicating therewith; said bore extending to said open end; said housing having a shoulder extending inwardly from said bore; a stationary valve seat means having inner and outer ends; said inner end having an annular clamp portion; and an annular seat portion concentrically spaced radially inward from said annular clamp portion thereby forming an annulus between said annular clamp portion and said annular seat portiOn; said valve seat means disposed in said bore; a flexible valve element having a periphery and having first and second opposite sides; said flexible valve element having a central opening therein; said second side of said flexible valve element near its periphery engaged with said shoulder; said flexible valve element engaged near said periphery and clamped by said seat means at said annular clamp portion thereof; said first side of said flexible valve element engageable with said annular seat portion; a movable valve member engageable with said second side of said flexible valve element in opposition to said annular seat portion; and first and second passage means communicating with said first and second sides of said flexible valve element; said first passage means communicating with said annulus and the exterior of said housing; said housing having an inner end opposite to said open end; said second passage means in said inner end of said housing, whereby separate pressurized fluids may flow from said first and second passage means when said movable valve member is moved away from said flexible valve element; a cap secured over said open end of said housing and having a central opening therein; a gasket having a central opening therein, said gasket clamped between said cap and adjacent portions of said housing and said valve seat means; and manually operable means extending through said openings in said cap and said gasket and movable therein, said manually operable means disposed to actuate said movable valve member; said movable valve member and said manually operable means being integral with each other and provided with a stem portion extending through said central opening of said flexible valve element; and a spring tending to hold said movable valve member against said flexible valve element and for compressively engaging said flexible valve element between said movable valve member and said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means.
 2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said movable valve member is provided with an annular poppet portion engageable with said flexible valve element in opposition to said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means; and passage means extending through said valve member beyond said central opening in said flexible valve element; said last-mentioned passage means extending outwardly through said manually operable means which extends through said openings in said cap and said gasket.
 3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said movable valve member and said integral manually operable means are axially and reciprocally operable in a rectilinear manner with respect to said housing, said stationary valve seat means, and said flexible valve element.
 4. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cap is provided with a peripheral portion adapted to be secured to an outer main container; said inner end of said housing having means thereon for supporting a flexible container in communication with said second passage means therein.
 5. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: said flexible container is integral with said inner end of said housing.
 6. In a fluid-dispensing valve, the combination: of: a stationary valve seat means having an annular seat portion; a flexible valve element having first and second opposite sides, said first side engageable with said annular seat portion; a movable valve member engageable with said second side of said flexible valve element; and first and second passage means communicating with said first and second sides of said flexible valve element, whereby separate pressurized fluid may flow from said first and second passage means when said movable valve element is moved away from said flexible valve element; said flexible valve element having a central opening therein, said movable valve member having a stem portion extending through said central opening in said flexible valve element, said stem portion being smaller than said centraL opening to permit fluid to flow through said central opening around said stem portion, said movable valve member having a poppet head provided with an annular poppet surface engageable with said flexible valve element at said second side thereof and adjacent said central opening therein; said movable valve member having ridges directed and extending axially from said poppet surface and disposed radially inward from an area engageable with said annular seat portion of said stationary valve seat means, thereby tending to cause resilient loading and movement of said flexible valve element in a direction away from said poppet surface, when said movable valve member is moved away from said flexible valve element and said valve seat means.
 7. The invention, as defined in claim 6, wherein: said ridges being spaced apart; said stem portion having radially spaced-apart fins disposed to engage said first side of said flexible valve element in positions displaced from and between those of said ridges, whereby said flexible valve element is forcefully moved from said annular seat portion of said valve seat means, when said poppet head is moved in a direction away from said second side of said flexible valve element.
 8. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a dip tube is coupled to said housing and communicates with said first passage means therein, said dip tube extending near to an inner extremity of said main container at the opposite end thereof from said valve housing. 